Mystery behind Stingray Current

Where does the stingray get its electricity from? I was unaware of this creature until the ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin met with his death. The cameraman who witnessed the incident confirmed that a stingray stabbed him to death. Every animal has unique defense mechanisms to safeguard itself from its respective predators. For instance, porcupines cast their sharp quills, chameleons camouflage and some animals such as opossums and snakes even play dead to ward off their predators.

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Mystery Revealed!

What about stingrays? They have one of the most unusual defense mechanisms. These type of electric rays have barb stings which inject “current” into the threatening predator. This is a misconception. They don’t electrocute like electric eels. The stingrays have a sting barb with spines with venom glands at its base. The barb spine pierces the skin of the predator, the spine settles deep into the wound and venom flows inside. The stingray’s venom consists of enzymes such as 5-nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The venom causes cell and tissue death. But it may or may not be, fatal.So Are Stingrays poisonous..? Yes

The venom that it injects gives you the illusion of being electrocuted as your brain loses control over your body due to extreme pain. So, it’s better to keep away from shallow waters of temperate seas in which they thrive.

Image credits: animals.howstuffworks.com

They also have electric sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini. These sensors sense natural electric charges of prey. Apart from this, these fishes have protruding eyes attached directly beneath the skin around the eyes for which they never blink. Interesting isn’t it?

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